Compare towns
Pelham vs Pembroke vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Pelham | Pembroke | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
7,438Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Pelham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Pembroke School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Pembroke Academy | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.